Best Trade Schools in Denver, Colorado (2025 Guide)

Updated September 14, 2025 | Brad Fishbein

Disclaimer: This article is for education only, not professional advice. Always verify details with official sources. Some links, forms, or listings are sponsored or paid, which may affect their placement. We may earn from them. Read our full Disclaimer.

Here are the best schools in Denver. Use this list to compare accredited programs, program lengths, and specialties. You will also find Colorado licensing steps and the trades hiring right now. Denver’s construction, energy, aviation, and manufacturing employers need skilled workers in 2025¹.

Top Trade Schools in Denver

Below are reputable, accredited options in the Denver metro. Program lengths are typical ranges. Confirm current details with each school.

School	Program Length	Highlights
Emily Griffith Technical College (Denver)	6–12 months certificates	HVAC, welding, automotive, machining. COE accredited. Day and evening schedules. Downtown campus².
Lincoln College of Technology – Denver	12–18 months diplomas	Automotive, diesel, collision repair, welding. ACCSC accredited. Employer-aligned labs³.
Community College of Denver – Advanced Manufacturing Center	1–2 semesters certificates; 2 years AAS	Welding, machining, fabrication, CAD. HLC accredited. Modern shop environment².
Front Range Community College – Westminster	1–2 semesters certificates; 2 years AAS	HVAC/R, welding, machining, electronics. HLC accredited. Multiple schedules and stackable credentials².
Pickens Technical College (Aurora)	6–12 months certificates	HVAC, welding, automotive, carpentry. COE accredited. Adult and high school pathways².
Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology – Broomfield	18–24 months	FAA Part 147 Aviation Maintenance Technician. ACCSC accredited. Hands-on hangar training³.
Colorado School of Trades (Lakewood)	14–18 months	Gunsmithing specialization. ACCSC accredited. Small cohorts and shop-intensive training³.
Denver JATC – IBEW Local 68 Electrical Apprenticeship	4–5 years apprenticeship	Paid on-the-job training plus classroom. Registered apprenticeship recognized by the Colorado State Electrical Board⁴.

Tip: Use College Navigator to verify program offerings and completion data, and ACCSC or COE directories to confirm current accreditation²³.

Skilled Trades in Demand

Electrician

Commercial and residential building in the Denver metro continues to drive steady demand for electricians¹. Apprentices start paid while they learn. Many graduates move into service, construction, or industrial roles. See how the career path works in our Electrician guide /trades/electrician.

HVAC/R Technician

Aging equipment, new construction, and extreme temperature swings keep HVAC technicians busy in Colorado. EPA Section 608 certification is required to handle refrigerants⁵. Many techs start with a 9–12 month certificate and add manufacturer or NATE credentials. Explore HVAC training paths /trades/hvac.

Welder

Fabrication, construction, energy, and aerospace suppliers around Denver hire entry-level welders with strong shop skills. Employers value hands-on practice, quality control, and industry credentials such as NCCER Welding⁶. Learn what to expect as a welder /trades/welding.

Plumber

Plumbing remains a high-need trade as the region grows. Apprentices earn while logging hours toward licensure. Work includes installs, service, and remodels in residential and commercial settings¹. See the plumbing career path /trades/plumbing.

Licensing Requirements in Colorado

Electricians

Board: Colorado State Electrical Board (DORA)⁴.
Apprentice: Register with DORA. Work under a licensed electrician.
Residential Wireman: 4,000 hours supervised experience. Pass the state exam.
Journeyman Electrician: 8,000 hours supervised experience including residential, commercial, and industrial. Pass the state exam.
Master Electrician: Additional supervisory and design experience after journeyman. Pass the master exam.
Renewal: Complete continuing education aligned to the latest NEC cycle⁴.

Plumbers

Board: Colorado State Plumbing Board (DORA)⁷.
Apprentice: Register with DORA. Track verified on-the-job hours.
Residential Plumber: Typical path is about two years of documented residential work. Pass the state exam.
Journeyman Plumber: About four years of diversified supervised experience. Pass the journeyman exam.
Master Plumber: Additional experience after journeyman and passing the master exam.
Renewal: Continuing education as required by the board⁷.

HVAC/R

Colorado has no single statewide HVAC technician license.
EPA Section 608 certification is required to work with refrigerants⁵.
Many HVAC contractors must hold local mechanical or contractor licenses. Check requirements with the City and County of Denver and your local jurisdiction before pulling permits.

Welding

No statewide welder license.
Employers commonly require performance qualifications and recognized credentials. NCCER credentials are widely used to document skills across processes and positions⁶.

General notes

Background checks and drug screening are common for apprenticeships and safety-sensitive jobs.
Keep training records and employer-verified hour logs. You will need them when applying for state exams.

Online & Flexible Options

Hybrid labs: Denver programs often combine online theory with in-person shop work. Look for evening or weekend lab blocks if you work full time.
Community colleges: Many general education classes for AAS degrees are offered online. Technical labs remain on campus.
Exam prep: Electrician and plumber exam prep courses are available in evening and online formats. Confirm they align with the current NEC or plumbing code cycle⁴⁷.
Short credentials: OSHA 10/30, First Aid/CPR, and EPA 608 exam prep can be completed online, then tested locally⁵.
Modular training: NCCER modules let you build skills and earn stackable credentials recognized by many Colorado employers⁶.

Next Steps

Compare more schools and programs at our state hub: Colorado Trade Schools.
Browse all skilled trades and career guides: Explore Trades.
New to this path? Start with our how-to resources: Training and Licensing Guides.
Want a broader view first? See the national hub: Trade School Directory.

Denver has multiple quality options whether you want a fast certificate, a registered apprenticeship, or an associate degree. Visit campuses, ask about job placement support, and confirm accreditation and licensing alignment before you enroll²³⁴⁷.

Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment and wage data and occupational outlook for electricians, HVAC mechanics and installers, plumbers, and welders. Accessed 2025. ↩ ↩ ↩
U.S. Department of Education, College Navigator. School profiles and program information for Colorado institutions. Accessed 2025. ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩
Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). Accredited institution directory. Accessed 2025. ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩
Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) – State Electrical Board. Licensing requirements, applications, apprentice registration, and continuing education. Accessed 2025. ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – Section 608 Technician Certification for HVACR. Requirements and exam types. Accessed 2025. ↩ ↩ ↩
NCCER. Industry-recognized credentials and standardized craft training used by contractors and employers. Accessed 2025. ↩ ↩ ↩
Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) – State Plumbing Board. Licensing requirements and applications. Accessed 2025. ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

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Meet the author: Brad Fishbein is a Florida Licensed Mold Assessor and council-certified Microbial Investigator. He’s the founder of TradeCareerPath.com and has completed over 5,000 mold inspections since 2009. Brad now helps homeowners and tradespeople make smart decisions about mold, licensing, and skilled career paths.